Telegraph-key.



L. WILSON.

TELEGRAPH KEY. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1908.

925,737. Pa tented June 22,1909.

8 wuentoz Zalm zZmw witnmpm LABAN WILSON, OF SIDNEY, WEST VIRGINIA.

TE LE GRAPH-KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1909.

Application filed March 11, 1908. Serial No. 420,478.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LABAN WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sidney, in the county of Wayne and State of Vest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in TelegraphKeys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telegraph keys for sending messages, and relates more particularly to a key of that type provided with a switch so associated with the key that when the operator is using the key the switch or circuit closer will be opened, and upon releasing the key after sending a message will be automatically closed for completing the circuit.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of apparatus of this character so as to be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, composed of few parts, and eflicient and reliable in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a telegraph key provided with a secondary lever disposed over the lever of the key and arranged to automatically open and close the circuit upon gripping or releasing the key in the sending of a message.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable contact element mounted on the secondary lever and adapted to engage a fixed contact on the metallic frame of the key.

lVith these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the device. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33, Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a suitable base-plate on which is mounted the metallic frame B of the device, the said frame consisting of a bottom plate 1 and upwardlyextending parallel arms or posts 1 2. Mounted between the posts is the main lever 3 of the key, the said lever being pivoted in the usual manner in set screws. One end of the key is provided with a button 4 whereby the operator can conveniently take hold of the same for sending a message, the opposite end of the lever being provided with the usual adjustable stop screw 5. On the bottom side of the lever is a platinum or other contact 6 arranged in cooperative relation with the stationary contact 7 to engage the latter in completing the circuit during the sending of the message, the con tact 7 being mounted on a metallic stud 8 secured in fixed position on the base-plate A by a screw 9 and insulated from the bottom plate 1 by a bushing 10 of insulation. Interposed between the lever 3 and bottom plate 1 is a spring 11 which is adjusted by a screw 12 carried by the lever and which maintains the contacts 6 and 7 separated when the instrument is not in use.

Disposed over the lever 3 is a secondary lever 13 which is formed with pivots 14 that, like the pivots of the lever 3, bear in set screws 15 carried by the posts 2, the set screws being held in adjusted position by clamping nuts 16. The lever 13 1s provided with an opening 17 through which the spring adjusting screw 12 extends so as to enable the head of the screw to be readily grasped for adjusting the spring, and on the lever 13 is an adjusting screw 18 threaded in said lever and arranged to adjust the tension of the spring 19. This spring passes through an opening 20 in the main lever 3 and bears on the bottom plate 1 of the frame B so as to normally hold the secondary lever in closed circuit position. On the rear end of the lever 13 is a contact element 21 of a circuit closer O. The element 21 in the present instance consists of a yoke 22 having depending arms 23 that span the rear end of the lever 3 and are adapted to normally ongage a stationary contact 24. On the lever 13 is a yoke 25 that is disposed over the yoke 22 and adjustably carries the latter by means of set screws 26 whereby the contact element 21 can be accurately adjusted with respect to the stationary contact 2 1 and the set screws are retained in adjusted position by clamping nuts 27. In the present instance, the stationary contact 24 is in the form of a wire 28 that is connected with studs 29 which pass through openings 30 in the bottom plate 1 and base plate A, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and these studs are provided with insulating bushings 31. The screws 32 of the studs are connected by a wire 32 with the screw 9 of the stud 8. The key is connected to the two sides a and b of the circuit in any desired manner, as for instance by the screw 34 connecting the wire a with the plate 1, and the screw 9 connecting the wire 6 with the stud 8.

In practice, when the instrument is idle, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the circuit closer C being in closed position so that the telegraph circuit will be in normal condition. \Vhen the operator desires to send a mesage, he grips the button t and.

at the same time places one finger on the button 38 of the secondary lever and holds the latter depressed against the button 4 as he manipulates the lever 3 for sending a message. As soon the message is completed, he releases the instrument and the levers immediately return to normal position, whereby the circuit will be completed by the circuit closer C.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a telegraph. key, the combination of a supporting frame, a key lever fulcrumed thereon, a circuit closing lever fulcrumed on the frame at a point above the key lever, and sets of contacts arranged to open and close the circuit by the movement of the levers, the set of contacts for one lever being located forwardly of the fulcrum of the latter and the set for the other lever being located rearwardly of its fulcrum.

In a telegraph key, the combination of a supporting frame, a key lever mounted thereon, a secondary lever disposed over the key lever, a fixed contact on the frame, a contact on the secondary frame and consist ing of spaced members disposed in coopera tive relation with the fixed contact, and separate devices supporting the said contact, on the secondary lever for adjusting the members to both engage the fixed contact. 3. In a telegraph key, the combination. of a supporting frame, a lever fulcrumed thereon and provided with an aperture, a spring disposed between the frame and lever, means on the lever for adjusting the spring, a secondary lever having an aperture for receiving the said means, a spring passing through the aperture of the firstmentioned lever and arranged to hold the secondary lever in normal position, contacts arranged to open and close the circuit by the movement of the first lever, and a circuit closer controlled by the secondary lever.

4. In a telegraph key, the combination of a supporting frame, a main lever mounted thereon, a secondary lever, a wire arranged 0-11 the supporting frame to form a. stationary contact, an adjustable contact on the secondary lever and arranged to engage the said wire, and a screw supporting and ad.- j usting the last-mentioned contact on the secondary lever.

In a telegraph key, the combination of a main lever, a secondary lever, a cross-piece on the secondary lever, a yoke having members straddling the first lever, means for ad,- justably connecting the yoke with the crosspiece, and a stationary contact arranged in cooperative relation with the said members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LABAN IVILSON.

itnesses BURNIE IVILsOX, RICHARD JACKSON. 

